Mail-box.



A NARDELL.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILEDAPR. 3. 1914. RENEWED JULY 39. 19l6.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

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ANTHONY NAB/DELL, F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1914, Serial No. 829,292. Renewed July 19, 1916. Serial No. 110,211.

useful Improvements in Mail-13oxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in mail boxes, and particularly to mail boxes which are attached to houses for private use.

One object of the invention is to provide a mail box which includes a name plate and a sign for indicating the presence of m il in the box, said name plate and sign being adapted to beiactuated by the mail as it falls into the box.

Another object is to provide a signal actuated by the falling of mail into the box and means for insuring against the mail being jammed or wedged between the moving parts.

Another object is to provide means for preventing the mail falling out when the door is opened.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mail box made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line l l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical detail sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing there is shown a mail box which includes the front and rear walls 10 and 11, the side walls 12 and the forwardly converging top and bottom walls 13 and 14. The box may be made of any suitable material, but preferably sheet metal as is com monly used for devices of this character.

In the top wall is formed a transverse entry slot 14 over which is arranged a pivoted cover 15. Pivotally mounted below the opening within the box, is a weighted guard plate 16 which normally closes the slot 14 from beneath. The front wall of the box has an access opening in which is mounted a hinged door 17 provided with a suitable lock 18. In the front wall below the door is formed an elongated sight opening 19 behind which is securcd a transparent element 20. Extending across the doorway, within the 'box is an upwardly and forwardly inclined guard plate 21 against which the mail leans, so that the mail will not fall through the doorway when the door is opened.

In the lower part of the box there is mounted a false bottom 22 which is carried. on a transverse pivot 23 joini-naled at its ends in the side walls of the box. The forward edge portion of this bottom carries a vertical name plate 24lwhich normally disposes itself behind the sight opening 19 and displays the name of the owner of the box through said opening. Also secured to the forward edge of the false bottom is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plate 25 on the outer face of which is inscribed the word Mail. The rear edge of this false bottom is formed with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined flange 26 against which the lower end of a letter will engage so that the letter will be prevented from becoming wedged between the said rear edge of the false bottom and the rear wall of the box.

On the rear wall, just above the rear edge of the false bottom is arranged a down wardly and inwardly inclined bafile or de fleet-or plate 27 against which the lower end of the letter deposited in the box will engage and be deflected onto the false bottom to the rear of the pivot of said bottom. lln the forward lower angle of the box is arranged a stop member 28 for engagement of the portion of the false bottom forwardly of the pivot thereof to insure that the name plate will be disposed behind the sight opening when no mail. is in the box. lln the lower rear angle of the box is a stop member 29 against which the rear edge of the false bottom is thrown when a letter falls on and depresses said bottom. When this bottom is rocked by the deposit of a letter, the name plate 24: will be moved above the sightopening and the plate 25 swung unt1l 1t 1s disposed behind the sight opening. The word Mail will then be displayed through the opening, indicating to the owner of the box that mail is therewithin.

Particular attention is called to the deflector 27 which insures that the letter will strike the false bottom at a sufiicient dis tance from the rear edge of said bottom to prevent the letter wedging itself between Patented Alin 29, 191i the bottom and the rear Wall. Attention is also directed to the flange 26 Which further insures that the letter will not Wedge at the point mentioned. It Will be noted that when the letter drops onto the false bottom and depresses the rear portion thereof, the letter Will be tilted so that its upper portion will engage against the guard plate 21. WVhen the front door of the box is opened, the mail will not fall through the doorway. It Will also be noted that When the letter depresses the false bottom, the letter will be forced to slide toward the rear and thus insure that it will lean against the guard plate, and not obstruct the passage of subsequent letters dropped into the box.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a mail box, of a movable false bottom mounted therein, the front wall of the box having a sight opening, a name plate and a signal plate angularly arranged With respect to each other and carried by the false bottom and mounted to normally dispose the name plate behind the sight opening, said bottom being when the said false bottom is actuated by the mail matter.

2. The combination with a mail box, of a pivotally mounted false bottom, a deflector carried by the rear wall of the box over the rear edge portion of the false bottom, a

guard flange on the rear edge portion of the false bottom, said deflector being arranged to deflect a piece of mail onto the false bottom rearwardly of the pivot thereof, said false bottom being arranged to be tilted by the piece of mail, and a guard plate carried within the box against which the mail is caused to rest.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY NARDELL. Witnesses:

JAs. H. Bnxoxwoon, Gno. H. GnANnLnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

